Edinburgh Book Festival Review – Ian Rankin

After the “outburst” by Val McDermid and subsequent press frenzy since Tuesday evening, this RBS sponsored event with Ian Rankin was never going to be a straight forward affair.

The assembled crowd inside the main tent in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh, had only two things on their lips; the “argument” between two of Scotland’s best known crime writers, and what the title might be of Ian Rankin’s final Inspector Rebus novel.

Rankin arrived on stage looking flush, confident, and very cheery. With his trademark briefcase under his arm and spectacles poking out his shirt pocket, he appeared ready for anything, or anyone. The ice that had threatened to chill the evening was broken swiftly by expert host, Magnus Linklater, when he began the proceedings by mentioning the series of short crime stories being run by the Book Festival’s main sponsor, The Times newspaper. Apparently, today’s edition included a story coincidentally called, Revenge Of The Blood Thirsty Lesbians, and was this Rankin’s way of announcing the title of his final Rebus book?

Of course it wasn’t, but it cleared the air with laughter, and paved the way for the more serious topic of what the title of the last Rebus novel would actually be. Rankin wouldn’t be drawn just yet, preferring to keep the secret for as long as possible. Speaking of the entries to his website competition to guess the title though, he mentioned some various suggestions he did like, such as The Pride of Mr John Rebus, Rebus Will Die, Ashes to Ashes, Rebus and the Deathly Hallows (Rankin’s own suggestion), and the winner, The Final Cut. Nobody guessed correctly, however, and so the secret remained.

Rankin read an extensive extract from the manuscript of his new novel, which covers the final ten days of the popular Edinburgh copper’s time in the force before retirement. It’s a political novel set in November 2007, which provided Rankin with a problem while writing it back in November 2006; the Scottish elections had still to happen, and nobody could say with any real certainty what the future of the Scottish political landscape would be in a month’s time, let alone a whole year.

In order to get some idea of the possibilities from the experts, his research included having discussions with the likes of Alex Salmond, the future Scottish First Minister, and outgoing British PM, Tony Blair.

The question of Scottish identity – who we are, what does being Scottish mean, independence – are all issues Rankin feels passionately about, and he credits the motivation to dig under these rocks to two things; becoming a father (“what kind of world will I leave for my kids”) and to Rebus (“what kind of Edinburgh/Scotland does he live in that I want to tell the world about?”).

It’s this ‘Tartan Noir’ ethic that has seen Rankin become the UK’s number one best selling crime writer. Born in Fife, Scotland, in 1960, he graduated from the University of Edinburgh, and it was while studying his PhD in English Literature, he also began to write novels.

One of these initial efforts, Knots & Crosses, was originally meant to be a mainstream, one-off novel, but ended up being the first in a series of 17 crime novels about the now world-famous, Inspector John Rebus. Since it was published in 1987, his books have gone on to be translated into 22 languages, transformed into a successful television drama series, and earned Rankin numerous awards. His impressive collection of gongs includes the prestigious Chandler-Fulbright Award, two Crime Writer’s Association Daggers awards, and an OBE, which he received in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Birthday Honours List in 2002.

But what next for Rankin now that the Rebus series is almost over? “I never cried for two days like Rowling did,” he jokes, “mainly because I had other projects that I dived straight into.” Rankin is currently writing a comic book, a 15-minute libretto for Scottish Opera, and is also penning a new novella about an art heist in Edinburgh.

Asked if there is even the remotest possibility of another Rebus novel, Rankin explains it would depend on two things: “First, do I have anything more to say about Edinburgh? And second, is there anything more to learn about Rebus?” He goes on to admit though, that he has “no idea what Rebus will do once he retires.”

Expanding the discussion to Scottish writing in general, Rankin is of the opinion there is room for all types of writers to say something about Edinburgh. “They’re all different,” he says. “Irvine Welsh’s Edinburgh, Kate Atkinson, J.K. Rowling (if she ever was to write about the city); there’s room for us all.”

And then came the question everyone had wanted to ask, but had left to Linklater to execute. “What’s the deal with you and Val McDermid?” Rankin tells a silent and captivated audience; “the whole thing began when I was looking at the Top Ten Best Seller list, and noticed that after Rendell and PD James, if you wanted to get into the list, it helped if you were a female writing graphic violence. And if you were a male writer, it helped if you weren’t. It all got blown up,” he says, exploding his hands into the air and laughing. “I can live with it.”

Rankin then disappoints the journalists in the audience by revealing that he and McDermid, “made peace months ago,” after the original mis-quote was printed, and that “they had been talking about it last night over the internet.” The issue as far as the two authors were concerned, had never been an issue in the first place.

Then, after much teasing and dropping of hints, the moment the bulk of the audience had been waiting for; the announcement of the title of the final Rebus novel. “It’s called Exit Music,” says Rankin, slipping it in mid-sentence and surprising us all. “The title,” he explains, “is taken from a solo album by Steven Lindsay. I also found out later that it’s a Radiohead track. It fits the book on so many levels.”

Finishing on a high note, Rankin goes on to talk about crime fiction in general; “I have a good feeling about crime fiction for the future. There are lots of new writers coming through with lots of big ideas and big themes.”

But for the Rebus fans present, the feel-good factor spread over them like warm butter on toast once when Rankin added to his title announcement, by reminding them that he is still signed to his current publishers for two more books after Exit Music. Though he candidly admitted, before leaving for his book signing, “I have no idea what they will be about.”

Related Links
www.ianrankin.net
www.edbookfest.co.uk

~ Colin Galbraith ~
www.colingalbraith.co.uk